Flamengo, Boca win in Copa Libertadores

Rio de Janeiro, Policenama Online – Footballer Bruno Henrique scored twice to help Flamengo beat Brazilian rivals Internacional 2-0 in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores quarterfinal. It took until the 75th minute for the hosts to break the deadlock at the Maracana stadium, with Henrique poking in a first-time effort after Gerson’s lay-off on Wednesday.

Henrique, who last week earned a maiden Brazil call-up for September friendlies against Peru and Colombia, then showed superb skill by controlling a Gabriel Barbosa pass and turning in the same motion before firing another shot past goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba, Xinhua news agency reported. The result means that even a loss by a margin of one goal in next week’s return leg in Porto Alegre will be enough for Flamengo to progress to the semifinals of South America’s premier club competition.

In Wednesday’s other quarterfinal, six-time champions Boca Juniors won 3-0 against LDU Quito. Ramon Abila gave the visitors an early lead before Jefferson Orejuela was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Emanuel Reynoso just before halftime.

Reynoso then made it 2-0 just after the interval, after which Kevin Minda was dismissed for abusive language toward the referee Emanuel Reynoso. LDU Quito’s night went from bad to worse when Luis Caicedo turned the ball into his own net nine minutes from time.